I have been in the field of journalism for some 36 years.
During that time, I have written thousands of stories, traveled the country for various reporting and editing jobs, met numerous notable people, and felt like I made a positive difference in the lives of some individuals.
That said, there is nothing worse than reporting on the death of a young person. As I turned 60 this year, people in their 20s and even 30s seem young to me.
So, it was with great sadness when I awoke early Tuesday to hear of the death of 25-year-old La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven.
On the force for not even two full years, Craven was out on I-8 in her patrol vehicle late Monday evening when she came across a multi-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes.
Like any officer would do, Craven exited her vehicle to render assistance to the injured.
Sadly, Craven was struck by another vehicle and killed at the scene. One of the accident victims also sadly passed away.
While I never got the chance to meet Craven, she sounded like a wonderful person. The desire she had to be a police officer and help others was evident at a young age.
During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, La Mesa Police Chief Ray Sweeney noted, “During her hiring process, she wrote: ‘It has always been my passion to serve others and there has never been a doubt in my mind that being a law enforcement officer is what I was meant to do.’”
While I chose journalism decades ago, my other career choice was law enforcement.
That desire to serve others in law enforcement came less than a decade ago when I decided to try becoming an officer with the San Diego Police Department. While it might have been a midlife crisis, I knew I had to give it a try.
After passing the written test surprisingly well, the physical challenge proved a little too much at age 55.
Ironically, one of the officers told me during a break in training to conquer the obstacle course that they were looking for people like me. That is, people with the skill of being able to listen to others, something I have honed in all my years of interviewing thousands of individuals.
As I stick with my current career, I walked away from that experience with even more respect for the men and women who wear the badge.
Individuals like Lauren Craven are not forced into becoming police officers. They do it because they have a calling to help others.
While her life was tragically cut way too short, those who knew her can take pride in knowing the woman she had become.
If something good comes out of this tragedy, my hope is that other young women will heed the call and want to become members of law enforcement.
When the time is right, it would be great if there was a Lauren Craven Scholarship that would be awarded to young people looking for a career in law enforcement, be it in La Mesa or elsewhere.
While her watch has ended, I hope her family, co-workers, and friends know that she died doing what she loved.
Helping other people in their time of need is the greatest calling in life.
Lauren Craven will be remembered for that and so much more.
